In Mind Body Zen, long-time Zen student, world-renowned Rolfer, and former philosophy professor Jeffrey Maitland combines his expertise across the mind-body-zen spectrum to help bridge the East-West gap in spiritual practice. Tackling the prevailing misconception that Zen is a philosophy, Maitland provides an in-depth explanation of why Zen is an eminently practical, grounded discipline. He emphasizes the power of simple, direct experience that lies at the heart of Zen. Maitland’s training in philosophy as well as bodywork distinguishes Mind Body Zen from many other books on the market. Drawing on his Rolfing expertise and years of applied meditation practice, he also offers techniques for healers across many systems and disciplines to more effectively work with their clients. Threaded throughout these discussions are the insights of Joshu Sasaki Roshi, founder of Mt. Baldy Zen Center, best known by some as Leonard Cohen’s teacher, still actively teaching at age 102 but whose work has rarely been published. Mind Body Zen will appeal to the growing number of Western Buddhists and spiritual seekers interested in Zen or meditation. Somatic therapists, psychotherapists, and healers of every persuasion will also find the connection between Zen and healing to be of great interest.

In Zen Mind, Strong Body, acclaimed bodyweight exercise expert Al Kavadlo presents his "philosophy of fitness"--a philosophy that has allowed him to endure injury-free, while achieving some of the world's most challenging movements, be it the One-arm Pull-up, the Human Flag, the Stand-to-stand Bridge, or the Front Lever. It's also a philosophy that's allowed Al to sculpt a magnificent physique--while maintaining an ever-burning passion to further develop his calisthenic excellence.Al's "secret sauce"? A Zen-like attitude to physical cultivation--which marries intense focus with a light-hearted "joy-in-the-journey." Zen-like too, is Al's insistence on intuitive simplicity and his celebration of personal, direct experience as the most trustworthy teacher.Zen Mind, Strong Body culls 26 of Al's favorite articles, elaborating his position on a wide spectrum of fitness subjects from diet and supplements, to machines and free weights, to cardio options, to mental training. For Al, though, all roads finally lead to Bodyweight Exercise--as the supreme path for all-around, everyday athleticism and practical functionality.Want what Al Kavadlo has? Absorb the hard-earned, earthy training wisdom in Zen Mind, Strong Body--and you will be on your way.

In Mind Body Zen, long-time Zen student, world-renowned Rolfer, and former philosophy professor Jeffrey Maitland combines his expertise across the mind-body-zen spectrum to help bridge the East-West gap in spiritual practice. Tackling the prevailing misconception that Zen is a philosophy, Maitland provides an in-depth explanation of why Zen is an eminently practical, grounded discipline. He emphasizes the power of simple, direct experience that lies at the heart of Zen. Maitland’s training in philosophy as well as bodywork distinguishes Mind Body Zen from many other books on the market. Drawing on his Rolfing expertise and years of applied meditation practice, he also offers techniques for healers across many systems and disciplines to more effectively work with their clients. Threaded throughout these discussions are the insights of Joshu Sasaki Roshi, founder of Mt. Baldy Zen Center, best known by some as Leonard Cohen’s teacher, still actively teaching at age 102 but whose work has rarely been published. Mind Body Zen will appeal to the growing number of Western Buddhists and spiritual seekers interested in Zen or meditation. Somatic therapists, psychotherapists, and healers of every persuasion will also find the connection between Zen and healing to be of great interest.

A Zen-inspired “physical education” program for martial arts practitioners and anyone interested in mind-body transformation Using simple, clear language to demystify the Zen mindset, Ralston draws on more than three decades of experience teaching students and apprentices worldwide who have applied his body-being approach. More of a transformative guide than a specific list of exercises devoted to any particular physical approach, Zen Body-Being explains how to create a state of mental control, enhanced feeling-awareness, correct structural alignment, increased spatial acuity, and even a greater interactive presence. Exercises are simple, often involving feeling-imagery and meditative awareness, which have a profound and sometimes instant effect. Areas of exploration include: • Beginner’s Body-Being • Three aspects of body awareness • Five principles for an effortlessly effective body • Opening a door--five steps to transformation • Fourteen points on structural alignment Where similar guides teach readers what to do, this book teaches readers how to be.

Eastern philosophy enters the stables in this unique guide to horsemanship. Allan Hamilton describes how horses understand and respond to the flow of vital energy around them. They use this energy, called chi, to communicate with their herd, express dominance, and sense predators. Hamilton shares safe, simple techniques to make you more receptive to your animal’s chi, so you can develop a calm and effective training style that will not only help your horse follow commands, but strengthen the spiritual bond between horse and rider.

A truly remarkable story of Zen medicine and how you can bring its practices into your own life. Author Shi Zxinggui began studying Zen medicine—a combination of meditation, gentle physical activity and medicine—as a child under the tutelage of the Shaolin Temple's Master Dechan. She carried it with her, eventually going on to lecture on the subject in both China and abroad for several decades. When she was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, Zxinggui returned to the Shaolin Temple, hoping the Zen medicine she'd spent so long teaching others about would help her. After careful nursing and appropriate mind and body exercises, her cancer went into remission. Since her own cancer battle, Zxinggui has helped many other cancer patients, devoting her life to this work. This book, which draws on the author's 20 years as a cancer fighter, 50 years as a doctor and life-long wisdom as a Zen practitioner, provides insight into how readers can implement these strategies, which emphasize daily health care and cultivation of the body and soul, into their own lives—not only to help with physical diseases, but also to ease mental anxieties and inspire others to live a clean, healthy life. Ailments addressed in the book are varied, and include: IBS Lumbar disc herniation Back and leg soreness High blood pressure Asthma And many others